Mortenson, Allina Health, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry Celebrate Construction Safety and Help Create the Largest Industry-Wide Construction Stand Down Ever

MINNEAPOLIS – (May 8, 2024) – Construction safety is in everyone’s interest. With more than 10 million people employed in the construction industry, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, everyone seems to know someone or many who put on work boots, a safety helmet and other protective equipment each day. Falls from elevation remain a top cause of injury or death for construction workers, constituting more than one-third of all recorded construction fatalities in 2022. 

Construction Safety Week, an annual, weeklong industry-wide event focused on safety and now in its 10th year, has partnered with OSHA and its 11th National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction initiative. This joint effort encourages construction companies to pause work sites throughout the U.S. on May 8 during Construction Safety Week (May 6-10) and to participate in the largest industry-wide safety stand down ever.

Mortenson, Allina Health, and the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry conducted a joint event Wednesday, May 8, on the Abbott Northwestern Hospital campus revitalization project site along with the project’s craft workforce to celebrate national Construction Safety Week and be a part of the national stand down. The event included remarks by leaders from all three organizations and a 3M Fall Protection demonstration.

"Safety is a core value of Mortenson and the top priority of our industry. Our commitment is to ensure that every person, in every role, gets home safely every day. There is no greater obligation in our industry than the well-being of our craft workers and everyone on our project sites,” said Dan Johnson, Mortenson Chief Executive Officer and 2024 Construction Safety Week Chair. “Construction Safety Week kicked off 10 years ago with a mission to make the industry safer for all workers. Over the years, this week-long initiative has evolved and strengthened the message that every person in the industry plays an essential role in safety.”

Construction Safety Week is an annual event designed to raise awareness of the industry’s ongoing commitment to building a culture of safety through sharing best practices, tools and resources at job sites and offices across the U.S. and Canada. Safety Week was founded by members of The Construction Industry Safety Initiative (CISI) and the Incident & Injury Free Executive Forum (IIF) and now includes 70 of the top contractors in the industry, representing thousands of workers. Additional support comes from Safety Week sponsors, partners, and advocates.

“Personal safety and wellbeing are critical aspects of overall health. We are grateful for Mortenson’s commitment to safety as the workers on site create a sustainable campus that will ensure our communities receive exceptional care well into the future,” said Kelly Spratt, Vice President of Operations at Allina Health’s Abbott Northwestern Hospital. “Mortenson is a terrific community partner, and we are proud to celebrate Construction Safety Week with them.”

“The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry is committed to ensuring safe and healthful working conditions for workers, so they return home safely at the end of the workday. Construction Safety Week and the National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction initiative is an opportunity to heighten job safety awareness and provide critical education about workplace hazards,” said Commissioner Nicole Blissenbach, Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry. “Fatalities caused by falls continue to be a leading cause of death for construction employees. These deaths are preventable. Eliminating exposure to fall hazards with fall protection and providing appropriate training is paramount on every jobsite.”

The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 gives states and territories the right to develop their own workplace safety and health plans and to enforce safety and health rules within their jurisdictions. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approves and monitors state plans. Twenty-nine states (including Minnesota) and territories have OSHA-approved state plans and can develop their own safety and health standards, as long as they are at least as effective as federal OSHA standards.

Minnesota OSHA helps keep workplaces safe and healthy through separate Compliance (workplace inspections and investigations) and Consultation (free voluntary workplace safety and health services) units.

About Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry

The Department of Labor and Industry ensures Minnesota’s work and living environments are equitable, healthy and safe. The agency oversees the state's programs for apprenticeship, construction codes and licensing, dual-training pipeline, occupational safety and health, wage and hour standards, workers' compensation and youth skills training programs.

About Allina Health

Allina Health is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A nonprofit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 12 hospital campuses, 14 retail pharmacies, and many specialty care centers and specialty medical services, home care, and emergency medical transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org and join us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Mortenson

Mortenson is a U.S.-based, top-20 builder, developer and provider of energy and engineering services committed to helping organizations move their strategies forward. Mortenson’s expanding portfolio of integrated services ensures that its customers’ investments result in high-performing assets. The result is a turnkey partner, fully invested in the business success of its customers.

Founded in 1954, Mortenson has operations across North America with offices in Chicago, Denver, Fargo, Iowa City, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Phoenix, Portland, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Nashville Seattle, Washington, D.C., and in Canada. For additional information, visit www.mortenson.com.

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CONTACTS: 

Cameron Snyder, Mortenson, cameron.snyder@mortenson.com

Jenny Steingas, Allina Health, jennifer.steingas@allina.com

James Honerman, MN Department of Labor and Industry, james.honerman@state.mn.us